Portable electric signal lamp



Filed March 31, 1944 INVENTDR. CEIJF BWMMURF S.

ATRNEY.

Patented June 1, 1948 PORTABLE ELECTRIC SIGNAL LAMP Cedric W. M. Morris, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Application March 31, 1944, Serial No. 528,993 In Canada April 6, 1943 3 Claims. (Cl. 177-329) This invention relates to signal lamps and more particularly does it relate to improvements in the signal lamp disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,341,189 dated February 8, 1944, and distinguishes from the aforementioned patent by providing means for signalling with light flashes of different colours.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device of this character which will enable light signal flashes to be transmitted in required colour form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the operator may instantly select and transmit signal flashes of a predetermined colour.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this nature which is portable and hand operated and is provided with lamp sighting means which enables the operator to concentrate a light beam from the lamp in signal flash form upon a given object, moving or otherwise.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character and nature which, apart from use as a signal device for transmitting signals from ship to shore, shore to ship, airplane to airplane, airplane to ship, etc., etc., may effectively and efficiently be employed for traflic control purposes in connection with airfield operations, street traflic and like conditions.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple in form, rugged in nature and one that will the more satisfactorily perform the functions required of it.

Bearing in mind the foregoing and other objects which will become apparent as the nature and details of the present structure become known and understood, the invention consists essentially in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in particular detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a signal lamp disclosing an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the colour selector shown in detached form.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail of the handle member showing the closure cover and sight supporting means.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the circuit closing switch.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the circuit.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the rear of the 2 handle member showing the selector operating lever, and I Fig, 8 is a section taken vertically through the light bulb I In the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of the present invention and wherein like letters and numerals of reference designate corresponding parts and elements in the different .illustrations, the letter A indicates the signal lamp as a whole and the letter B the colour selector.

Broadly speaking, the device includes a lamp housing ll, handle operating means I 8 preferably of the pistol-grip type, colour selector l1, sighting means l8 and circuit l9.

More in detail, the lamp housing includes a detachable cover member 20 provided with lens 2| and detachable connecting means 22. The lens is provided with rubber or like gaskets to form a gas-proof chamber in the housing and shock absorbing means for the lens 2|.

A vertical bulb supporting socket 23 is mounted within the housing- IS in any suitable manner and supports bulb 24 substantially centrally of the main reflector. As more particularly indicated in Fig. 1, a light-proof coating 25 of suitable material covers the entire outer surface of the bulb 24 except that portion indicated by numeral 26 which is not coated and such uncoated portion faces directly toward the main reflector. Thus a restricted outlet 26 is provided for the light beam emitted from the light bulb. In addition to the foregoing. the interior of the light bulb facing the outlet 26 is provided with a silver coating as indicated at 25" which is designed to act as a primary reflector.

The colour selector ll previously mentioned is operatively mounted on socket 23. In structure, the selector includes lens members 21 and 2d of contrasting colours such for example as red and green" which are conventionally recognized as "stop and "go" signals. As particularly observed in Fig. 2, the lens members 21 and 28 are disposed at opposite sides of the light bulb and at right angles to the main reflector. In this position then the colours in the lens do not in any manner influence or reflect upon the ordinary white light beam of signal transmitted from the signal lamp through the lens 2|.

Lens members 21 and 28 are carried by a suitable frame structure supported'by arm members 29 and 30, the latter being connected to a sleeve 3| which is rotatably mounted upon socket 23 and retained in operative position by means of an adjustable collar or the like 32. Arm member 2| is provided with a vertically extending shaft 88 which extends through a bushed opening in the housing where, exteriorly of the housing II, it is fltted with a spur gear 34. A further spur gear ll meshingly engages gear 36 mounted on horizontal shaft 38, such shaft extending rearwardly through the sight support means to the rear of the handle II where it is provided with an operating lever or handle 31. The lever 31 depending downwardly, assumes a position where it may conveniently be operated by movement of the thumb of the operator when colour signals are required. A collar ii on shaft It maintains the operating gears in meshing engagement while a cover member 30, connected to the housing in any suitable manner, protects the gear mechanism.

Interiorly of the housing and adjacent the rear thereof, I provide a reflector member 40. The reflector is provided with supporting arm members II which extend through bosses 4!. Adjusting nuts ll and expansion springs 44 provide means for adjusting the reflector for purposes of coordinating the path of travel of a light beam signal from the lamp with that of the sighting means ll.

Detachably secured to the rear of the lamp housing adjacent the top thereof is the handle member II. In structure, the handle is of hollow, compartment like formation and provided with inlet and outlet openings 46 and 4'! respectively for the passage of current conducting wires or leads to and from the hollow compartment while opening 48 at the top of the handle ll provides means for the convenientinsertion or removal of the detachably mounted switch member ll. In order that the hollow compartment may be sealed from the'atmosphere, I provide insulating plugs I and II which are compressed around the current conducting wires at the inlet and outlet openings by means of gland nuts I! and I! while closure cover member N with suitable gasket means forms an air and gas-tight closure for the opening 48. From the foregoing it will be seen that not only the compartment of the handle member ll is in the form of a gas-proof chamber or compartment for the switch 4! but the housing ii enclosing the light bulb 24 is also in the form of a gas-proof compartment or chamber. with these compartments effectively sealed from the atmosphere, the signal lamp may be operated with every degree of safety where combustible gases or vapours exist.

Means for operatingthe switch 49 to close the circuit and light the bulb 24 comprises hand or finger operated trigger member I pivotally mounted as at it and spring actuated plunger ll. The spring actuated plunger member urges the trigger member outwardly and as a result the lighting circuit I! is normally open. The switch member 48 includes a sealed housing It enclosing a switch or contact operating plunger ll, movable spring contact II and stationary contact ii, the contacts II and ll being provided with wire or lead connecting terminals 82 and It.

The circuit herein includes a source of current supply such as a battery N, lead I, jack-plug ll, lead 81, lamp 2, spring contact I. which is the means for closing the circuit and lead 8. which returns to battery Bl.

Preferably, the cover member It supports the sighting means II as well as providing a closure cover for the opening I. which leads to the handle compartment. As more particularly observed in Figs. 1 and 4, the cover member 54 is provided with upwardly extending support members ll and it is such support means to which the sighting means II is detachably secured by means of embracing straps or the like II.

Sighting means for the signal lamp may be of the barrel type or of the telescopic type, circumstances dictating the type employed. In the present instance I illustrate the former which includes a hollow tubular member ll provided with front squared circle sighting element 12 and a rear peep-sight element II. A flexible eye piece 14 protects the eye of the operator from injury when engaged with the barrel sight while open sight means includes front and rear sight elements II and 18 mounted on the top of the tubular member H.

In order to guard against error in the directional movement of the lever 31 to insure that the desired signal colour is flashed from the lamp, I provide the rear of the handle member with colour indicator means 11, l8 and II which corresponds to the colour flashes from the lamp. Thus, when lever ll is moved to the "right" one colour signal is flashed, when moved to the "left" a diflerent colour signal is flashed and when the lever 31 is disposed centrally of the handle, the normally white" colour signal is flashed.

Operation when the signal lamp is required for operation, the Jack-plug N is plugged into the battery terminal and the lamp is then ready for operational purposes. The lamp is then swung by hand to eye level when the sighting means are trained upon the desired object. Assuming that an ordinary white signal flash is desired, the lever 31 is positioned centrally of the handle member as previously described. In this position a light beam from the bulb 24 will pass through the uncoated portion II of the bulb directly to the reflector ll which in turn will reflect a white signal flash, the coloured lenses 21 and II being disposed at right angles to the path of travel of the light beam from the reflector, do not influence or interfere with the colour value of the white signal flash. Signal messages are then transmitted by intermittent pressure and release of the trigger member I! which closes and opens the circuit I! and causing the necessary signal to be flashed.

Should a "red" signal be desired, the lever 31 is moved to the right orleft as the case may be, such movement operating the shaft 38, gears 35 and 34 and shaft ll which rotatably moves the frame H with red coloured lens into'a direct path between the uncoated portion 26 of the bulb and the reflector 40 which results in a red" signal flash when the lamp is operated. with the "red" lens in the direct path of the light beam as previously mentioned, it is noted that the "green lens is disposed at the opposite and dark or coated side of the bulb and does not influence the colour value of the red signal when flashed from the lamp. Should it be desired to flash a "green signal, then lever 31 is moved to its opposite position on the handle by simple thumb action, such operation moving the "green" lens into a direct path between the uncoated portion 28 of the bulb and the reflector II which then enables a green" signal light to be flashed from the lamp.

From the foregoing it will-be seen that I provide a novel structural arrangement which enables signals to be flashed in different colour values and that the colour values may be readily and conveniently changed or altered without one interfering or influencing the other and with the vital elements housed in gas-proof compartments. It will be understood however that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics of th invention.

I claim:

1. In a signal lamp of the character described,

a a housing. member provided with a lens closed opening and a light reflector, a light bulb mounted in the housing, the said lightbulb having a coating of light impenetrable medium with a restricted light transparent area arranged to transmit a beam of light therefrom toward the reflector, a normally open circuit for the light bulb having a control switch therein, a color selector mounted within the housing provided with lenses of diiferent color values, the said lenses normally being out of the path of travel of a light beam from the transparent area of the bulb andmovable into the path of the said light beam for the transmission of a light signal of a preselected color, a single handle grip member secured to the rear of the housing, a finger operable trigger and a color selector operating lever carried by the handle grip for independently and simultaneous- 1y operating the switch to close and open the light circuit and to move the color selector by a single hand operation.

2. In a signal lamp of the character described, a housing member provided with a lens closed opening and a light reflector, a light bulb mounted in the housing, the said bulb having a coating of light impenetrable medium with a restricted light transparent area arranged in the direction of the reflector, a normally open circuit for the light bulb having a control switch therein, a color selector mounted within the housing provided with lenses having different color values, the said lenses normally being out of the path of travel of alight beam from the transparent area of the bulb and movable into the path of travel of the light beam to provide a signal light of preselected color, a single handle grip member secured to the rear 01' the housing. a thumb operable lever for operating the color selector and a finger operable trigger for operating the light circuit switch for independently and simultaneously closing and opening the light circuit and moving the color selector into and out of the path of travel of a light beam from the bulb by a single hand operation and supplementary light reflecting means carried by the bulb.

3. In a signal lamp of the character described,

a housing member provided with a lens closed 1 opening and a light reflector, a light bulb mounted in the housing. the said light bulb having a coating of light impenetrable medium with a restricted light transparent area arranged to permit a beam of light from the bulb to be transmitted in the direction of the reflector, a normally open circuit for the bulb having a control switch therein, a color "selector mounted in the housing on opposite sides of the light bulb provided with lenses having different color values, the said lenses normally being out oi the path of travel of a light beam from the transparent area of the light bulb and movable into the path of the said light beam for the transmission of signals of preselected color, a single handle grip member secured to the housing. a thumb operable lever for the color selector and a finger operable trigger for the light circuit carried by the handle grip for independently and simultaneously moving the color lens into and out of the path of travel of the light beam from the light bulb and closing and opening the light circuit by a single hand operation and visible color identifyingmeans for predetermining the selection of the lens color.

CEDRIC W. M. MORRIS.

REFERENCES CIT D The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

2,286,657 Swanson June 16, 1942 

